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Road traffic statistics

Wales

In 2024, 18.8 billion vehicle miles of traffic were travelled across the 21.1 thousand miles of roads in Wales.

Time period
1993 - 2024
Count points
2,588
Local authorities
22
ONS code
W92000004

Road traffic by vehicle type from 1993 to 2024

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Wales, split by vehicle type

Road traffic by vehicle type table

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Wales, split by vehicle type

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in Wales, split by vehicle type
Year All motor vehicles Cars & taxis LGVs HGVs Pedal cycles Motorcycles Buses & coaches
2024 18.8 14.5 3.4 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1
2023 18.5 14.3 3.3 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1
2022 18.2 13.8 3.4 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1
2021 16.5 12.4 3.2 0.7 0.2 0.1 0.1
2020 14.6 11.0 2.8 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.1
2019 19.1 14.9 3.2 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1
2018 18.9 14.8 3.2 0.7 0.1 0.2 0.1
2017 18.6 14.6 3.1 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1
2016 18.6 14.6 3.0 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1
2015 17.9 14.1 2.8 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.1
2014 17.4 13.8 2.6 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2
2013 16.8 13.3 2.5 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2
2012 16.6 13.2 2.5 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2
2011 16.6 13.2 2.4 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2
2010 16.5 13.1 2.4 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2
2009 16.7 13.4 2.3 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2
2008 17.0 13.5 2.4 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
2007 17.1 13.6 2.3 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.2
2006 16.9 13.5 2.2 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
2005 16.5 13.2 2.2 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
2004 16.6 13.4 2.1 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
2003 16.2 13.1 2.0 0.8 0.1 0.2 0.2
2002 16.0 13.0 1.9 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
2001 15.5 12.6 1.9 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
2000 15.4 12.5 1.8 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
1999 15.5 12.6 1.8 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
1998 15.2 12.3 1.8 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
1997 15.0 12.2 1.7 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
1996 14.7 12.0 1.6 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
1995 14.3 11.7 1.6 0.8 0.1 0.1 0.2
1994 14.1 11.5 1.5 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2
1993 13.7 11.3 1.5 0.7 0.1 0.1 0.2

Road traffic by road type from 1993 to 2024

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Wales, split by road type

Road traffic by road type table

Billion vehicle miles travelled each year in Wales, split by road type

Billion vehicle miles driven each year in Wales, split by road type
Year A-roads Minor roads Motorways
2024 9.7 6.7 2.4
2023 9.5 6.7 2.3
2022 9.2 6.7 2.3
2021 8.2 6.3 2.0
2020 7.1 5.7 1.7
2019 9.8 6.9 2.4
2018 9.7 6.8 2.3
2017 9.5 6.8 2.3
2016 9.5 6.8 2.3
2015 9.1 6.4 2.3
2014 8.9 6.3 2.2
2013 8.7 6.0 2.1
2012 8.7 5.9 2.1
2011 8.7 5.8 2.1
2010 8.7 5.8 2.0
2009 8.9 5.8 2.1
2008 8.9 6.0 2.1
2007 8.9 6.0 2.2
2006 8.9 5.9 2.1
2005 8.7 5.8 2.1
2004 8.7 5.8 2.1
2003 8.5 5.8 1.9
2002 8.3 5.8 1.9
2001 8.0 5.7 1.8
2000 7.9 5.7 1.7
1999 8.0 5.8 1.8
1998 7.9 5.6 1.7
1997 7.9 5.6 1.6
1996 7.7 5.5 1.5
1995 7.5 5.4 1.4
1994 7.3 5.4 1.4
1993 7.1 5.3 1.3

Local authorities in Wales

Download data

Data disclaimer

Traffic figures at the regional and national level are robust, and are reported as accredited official statistics. However, DfT’s traffic estimates for individual road links and small areas are less robust, as they are not always based on up-to-date counts made at these locations. Where other more up-to-date sources of traffic data are available (e.g. from local highways authorities), this may provide a more accurate estimate of traffic at these locations.

It is the responsibility of the user to decide which data are most appropriate for their purpose, and if DfT road link level traffic estimates are used, to make a note of the limitations in any published material.

Quality flags in data downloads

DfT’s road link level traffic estimates are calculated using a variety of methods, with some methods likely to produce more accurate estimates than others.

The data tables available to download here contain a column - estimation_method – showing the method used to estimate traffic for each location and year. Figures having an estimation method of “Counted” are likely to be more accurate than those marked as “Estimated”, and the latter should be used with caution.

Count points
Details of each count point in Wales.
Traffic by vehicle type
The total volume of traffic across Wales each year, split by vehicle type.
Traffic by road type
The total volume of traffic across Wales each year, split by road type.
Average annual daily flow
The number of vehicles that travel (in all directions) past each count point in Wales on an average day of the year.
Average annual daily flow by direction
The number of vehicles that travel past each count point in Wales on an average day of the year, split by direction of travel.
Raw counts
The vehicle counts recorded at each count point in Wales.
Data Description Records Download
Count points Details of each count point in Wales. 2,588
Traffic by vehicle type The total volume of traffic across Wales each year, split by vehicle type. 32
Traffic by road type The total volume of traffic across Wales each year, split by road type. 139
Average annual daily flow The number of vehicles that travel (in all directions) past each count point in Wales on an average day of the year. 35,943
Average annual daily flow by direction The number of vehicles that travel past each count point in Wales on an average day of the year, split by direction of travel. 67,695
Raw counts The vehicle counts recorded at each count point in Wales. 302,808

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